Grants

The Abell Foundation awards grants to nonprofit community partners working to improve the quality of life in Baltimore. We provide seed funding for innovative pilots, support for ongoing community programs and services, and funding for capital projects. In addition to providing grant funding, the Foundation supports our nonprofit partners through connection to our local and national networks, as well as our team’s deep experience in and knowledge of Baltimore as it relates to our program areas.

Learn More About Our Process

Eligibility and Review Criteria

For all nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding, regardless of the request amount. 

Small Grants Process

For grant requests of $10,000 or less.

Reviewed on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply.

Regular Grants Process

For grant requests greater than $10,000.

Reviewed at one of the Foundation’s five annual Board meetings.

Submit an Application

Considering Applying for a Small Grant?

If you have never received an Abell small grant (requests of $10,000 or less), you must attend an information session to confirm fit with eligibility criteria and funding priorities prior to submitting a small grant application. 

Sign up for an info session

Considering Applying for a Regular Grant?

First-time applicants with grant requests greater than $10,000 should submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application. For guidance on what to include in your LOI, please reference our frequently asked questions.

Submit an LOI

Ready to Apply?

If you are a returning applicant or have met our eligibility criteria and requirements and are ready to apply for a grant, you may do so on the apply page.

Start a Grant Application

Returning to a Saved Application or Submitting a Report?

Log into the grant portal below to return to your saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

Citizens Planning and Housing Association

$85,000 / 2007 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Toward support of Access to Housing, a program designed to set standards for housing of homeless, ex-offenders, and recovering addicts. Baltimore Area Association for Supportive Housing (BAASH) will continually assess quality of housing for the homeless, and provide guidance on best practices. BAASH will train and provide technical assistance to new providers upon request.

Civic Works

$108,195 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For support of the B’more Green environmental job training program to serve unemployed or underemployed residents of Baltimore City. The training consists of a seven-week, 250-hour program of hands-on fieldwork and classroom study. Upon completion, the trainees will receive certification in lead abatement and First Aid/CPR, and training in hazardous-materials remediation, emergency response, environmental site assessment and sampling, ecological restoration, and storm water management.

Core Knowledge Foundation

$270,980 / 2007 / Education
Two grants in support of the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence Initiative in four Baltimore City Head Start Centers for March 2007 through June 2008. The initiative provides teacher training covering the implementation of language, social, mathematical reasoning, and number sense skills; leadership development; Core Knowledge resources and supplies; effective responses to issues of educating children with English as a Second Language, and collecting a comprehensive student baseline data for ongoing assessments of each child.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

$25,000 / 2007 / Education
For competitive scholarships for one team of four students participating in the Corporate Work-Study Program at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and at the YMCA for the 2007-2008 school year.

DonorsChoose, Inc.

$50,000 / 2007 / Education
Toward the implementation of an online website to provide needed resources to Baltimore City public school teachers and students. Teachers in need of money to purchase materials can post descriptions of student project proposals on the not-for-profit website, while concerned individuals can search for areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the most compelling projects in full or in part. DonorsChoose will then purchase the materials and ship items to the schools. Connecting citizen philanthropists with classrooms in need serves as a powerful link to ensuring community involvement in the local schools.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.